7 weeks update
Feb 21st 2011, 9:58 am
#1
Ping pong PoM
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2006
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 1,537
7 weeks update
Well, we've been back in the UK for 7 weeks now, so thought I'd give you a little update.
Youngest decided to stay in Australia, but as he's 18, it had to be his decision. He's living with his girlfriend now... and continuing his Bricklaying apprenticeship... Just going into his 3rd year.
We found a rental very quickly, although it's a little larger than we need (6 bedrooms!) the price was right and they didn't want 6 months up front. OH has gone back to his old company (with a big promotion, and started 2 days after we landed) I don't think he's enjoying it much but he didn't work in Australia for the 2 1/2 years we lived there, so I guess it's a bit of a shock!!
Our container arrived the day after we got the rental as, did the dog, who'd been in Kennels for weeks as MIL has a dog already and ours is not sociable! We also seem to have regained our elder son who finished Uni in the Summer, he couldn't wait to move back home!!
We've bought a car (BMW) which was very reasonably priced compared to Australia.... Although I'm not so delighted with the price of the diesel (luckily it will do 40 to the gallon!)
We've bought a plot of land already and are just applying for planning to build a home of our own. (The council was selling off residential plots for a song, so we thought it would be rude not to! Recession really does have it's compensations
)
There are things I miss; mostly our youngest, although, I think it's teaching him some life lessons, doing without the bank of Mum and Dad. Also stupid things like Cheezles, and Tim Tams, and walking the dog on the beach in the early morning. I've been FREEZING since we landed, but tbh, it's not enough to make me want to return.
I'm grateful that I don't have to pay $5 for a decent loaf of bread anymore, but I have to say that the price of food has gone up a lot in the UK since I left.... the cheapest butter you can get now is 98p when I left it was 65p that's a 50% increase in price in less than 3 years! But dried fruit, chocolate, Pork, bacon, chicken etc is still less expensive here, even with the price increases.
My sisters, my friends and my family just down the road is just great. Funny thing is that I didn't realise how much I missed them until I came back.... I'm not a homesick kind of person.
The decision to move back was always a practical one based on employment and lifestyle. My home is really where my man is... the rest of it is flexible.
I'm sure that all you expats who live in another country, when you'd rather be elsewhere, because of you man understand what I'm saying.....
I'm just starting to look for a job myself now, but from what I've seen there seems to be no shortage of opportunities in my field, so I'm hopeful....
Hope all of you planning on the return trip find your move as smooth as we have
Youngest decided to stay in Australia, but as he's 18, it had to be his decision. He's living with his girlfriend now... and continuing his Bricklaying apprenticeship... Just going into his 3rd year.
We found a rental very quickly, although it's a little larger than we need (6 bedrooms!) the price was right and they didn't want 6 months up front. OH has gone back to his old company (with a big promotion, and started 2 days after we landed) I don't think he's enjoying it much but he didn't work in Australia for the 2 1/2 years we lived there, so I guess it's a bit of a shock!!
Our container arrived the day after we got the rental as, did the dog, who'd been in Kennels for weeks as MIL has a dog already and ours is not sociable! We also seem to have regained our elder son who finished Uni in the Summer, he couldn't wait to move back home!!
We've bought a car (BMW) which was very reasonably priced compared to Australia.... Although I'm not so delighted with the price of the diesel (luckily it will do 40 to the gallon!)
We've bought a plot of land already and are just applying for planning to build a home of our own. (The council was selling off residential plots for a song, so we thought it would be rude not to! Recession really does have it's compensations
) There are things I miss; mostly our youngest, although, I think it's teaching him some life lessons, doing without the bank of Mum and Dad. Also stupid things like Cheezles, and Tim Tams, and walking the dog on the beach in the early morning. I've been FREEZING since we landed, but tbh, it's not enough to make me want to return.
I'm grateful that I don't have to pay $5 for a decent loaf of bread anymore, but I have to say that the price of food has gone up a lot in the UK since I left.... the cheapest butter you can get now is 98p when I left it was 65p that's a 50% increase in price in less than 3 years! But dried fruit, chocolate, Pork, bacon, chicken etc is still less expensive here, even with the price increases.
My sisters, my friends and my family just down the road is just great. Funny thing is that I didn't realise how much I missed them until I came back.... I'm not a homesick kind of person.
The decision to move back was always a practical one based on employment and lifestyle. My home is really where my man is... the rest of it is flexible.
I'm sure that all you expats who live in another country, when you'd rather be elsewhere, because of you man understand what I'm saying.....
I'm just starting to look for a job myself now, but from what I've seen there seems to be no shortage of opportunities in my field, so I'm hopeful....
Hope all of you planning on the return trip find your move as smooth as we have
Feb 21st 2011, 11:28 am
#2
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Sep 2007
Location: Canberra
Posts: 8,378
Re: 7 weeks update
Gee, you guys dont let the grass grow under your feet either do you? Good to hear that things have gone smoothly for you, it is nice to hear success stories from the land of doom and gloom!!!
Hope it continues to go brilliantly!
Hope it continues to go brilliantly!
Feb 21st 2011, 4:05 pm
#3
The Kwisatz Haderach
Joined: Aug 2008
Location: North Wales
Posts: 8,080
Re: 7 weeks update
excellent update
Feb 21st 2011, 4:31 pm
#4
Finally Home!
Joined: Mar 2010
Location: Used to be New York, now North Yorkshire
Posts: 3,610
Re: 7 weeks update
Great to read - thanks!
Feb 21st 2011, 6:35 pm
#5
Home Sweet Home
Joined: Jan 2010
Location: Surrey, England
Posts: 5,128
Re: 7 weeks update
Thanks for sharing your upbeat update. So good to hear.
Feb 22nd 2011, 4:04 pm
#6
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 45
Re: 7 weeks update
Well, we've been back in the UK for 7 weeks now, so thought I'd give you a little update.
Youngest decided to stay in Australia, but as he's 18, it had to be his decision. He's living with his girlfriend now... and continuing his Bricklaying apprenticeship... Just going into his 3rd year.
We found a rental very quickly, although it's a little larger than we need (6 bedrooms!) the price was right and they didn't want 6 months up front. OH has gone back to his old company (with a big promotion, and started 2 days after we landed) I don't think he's enjoying it much but he didn't work in Australia for the 2 1/2 years we lived there, so I guess it's a bit of a shock!!
Our container arrived the day after we got the rental as, did the dog, who'd been in Kennels for weeks as MIL has a dog already and ours is not sociable! We also seem to have regained our elder son who finished Uni in the Summer, he couldn't wait to move back home!!
We've bought a car (BMW) which was very reasonably priced compared to Australia.... Although I'm not so delighted with the price of the diesel (luckily it will do 40 to the gallon!)
We've bought a plot of land already and are just applying for planning to build a home of our own. (The council was selling off residential plots for a song, so we thought it would be rude not to! Recession really does have it's compensations)
There are things I miss; mostly our youngest, although, I think it's teaching him some life lessons, doing without the bank of Mum and Dad. Also stupid things like Cheezles, and Tim Tams, and walking the dog on the beach in the early morning. I've been FREEZING since we landed, but tbh, it's not enough to make me want to return.
I'm grateful that I don't have to pay $5 for a decent loaf of bread anymore, but I have to say that the price of food has gone up a lot in the UK since I left.... the cheapest butter you can get now is 98p when I left it was 65p that's a 50% increase in price in less than 3 years! But dried fruit, chocolate, Pork, bacon, chicken etc is still less expensive here, even with the price increases.
My sisters, my friends and my family just down the road is just great. Funny thing is that I didn't realise how much I missed them until I came back.... I'm not a homesick kind of person.
The decision to move back was always a practical one based on employment and lifestyle. My home is really where my man is... the rest of it is flexible.
I'm sure that all you expats who live in another country, when you'd rather be elsewhere, because of you man understand what I'm saying.....
I'm just starting to look for a job myself now, but from what I've seen there seems to be no shortage of opportunities in my field, so I'm hopeful....
Hope all of you planning on the return trip find your move as smooth as we have
Youngest decided to stay in Australia, but as he's 18, it had to be his decision. He's living with his girlfriend now... and continuing his Bricklaying apprenticeship... Just going into his 3rd year.
We found a rental very quickly, although it's a little larger than we need (6 bedrooms!) the price was right and they didn't want 6 months up front. OH has gone back to his old company (with a big promotion, and started 2 days after we landed) I don't think he's enjoying it much but he didn't work in Australia for the 2 1/2 years we lived there, so I guess it's a bit of a shock!!
Our container arrived the day after we got the rental as, did the dog, who'd been in Kennels for weeks as MIL has a dog already and ours is not sociable! We also seem to have regained our elder son who finished Uni in the Summer, he couldn't wait to move back home!!
We've bought a car (BMW) which was very reasonably priced compared to Australia.... Although I'm not so delighted with the price of the diesel (luckily it will do 40 to the gallon!)
We've bought a plot of land already and are just applying for planning to build a home of our own. (The council was selling off residential plots for a song, so we thought it would be rude not to! Recession really does have it's compensations
) There are things I miss; mostly our youngest, although, I think it's teaching him some life lessons, doing without the bank of Mum and Dad. Also stupid things like Cheezles, and Tim Tams, and walking the dog on the beach in the early morning. I've been FREEZING since we landed, but tbh, it's not enough to make me want to return.
I'm grateful that I don't have to pay $5 for a decent loaf of bread anymore, but I have to say that the price of food has gone up a lot in the UK since I left.... the cheapest butter you can get now is 98p when I left it was 65p that's a 50% increase in price in less than 3 years! But dried fruit, chocolate, Pork, bacon, chicken etc is still less expensive here, even with the price increases.
My sisters, my friends and my family just down the road is just great. Funny thing is that I didn't realise how much I missed them until I came back.... I'm not a homesick kind of person.
The decision to move back was always a practical one based on employment and lifestyle. My home is really where my man is... the rest of it is flexible.
I'm sure that all you expats who live in another country, when you'd rather be elsewhere, because of you man understand what I'm saying.....
I'm just starting to look for a job myself now, but from what I've seen there seems to be no shortage of opportunities in my field, so I'm hopeful....
Hope all of you planning on the return trip find your move as smooth as we have
Gorgeous sunny London day, amazing views, beautiful blue skies So you left your 18 year old behind, that's what I'm facing at the moment, ideally I'd like to leave in June, my 18 year old doesnt finish her course until November and doesnt want to come 
, my oldest is at Uni in NY and is blissfully happy here so neither would he. You're proof this can be done lol. I'd be leaving my husband behind so I know they'd have at least one of their parents.....
Feb 23rd 2011, 10:55 am
#7
Ping pong PoM
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2006
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 1,537
Re: 7 weeks update
LOL Sarah!
I seem to be adept at leaving children behind as I gallivant across the world! When we left for Aus our eldest was at Uni, and choose to stay here in the UK.
Being in a different country though, doesn't seem to have affected their ability, to ask for money on a regular basis. I have to say that my bank balance hasn't noticed that I now have two 'grown up' children!!!
I seem to be adept at leaving children behind as I gallivant across the world! When we left for Aus our eldest was at Uni, and choose to stay here in the UK.
Being in a different country though, doesn't seem to have affected their ability, to ask for money on a regular basis. I have to say that my bank balance hasn't noticed that I now have two 'grown up' children!!!
Mar 2nd 2011, 7:11 pm
#8
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2008
Location: Alberta to Kendal
Posts: 353
Re: 7 weeks update
WOW that is an amazing up date !!!!
Thats what i love to hear........and i cannot wait for that day too!
We are also looking for land to build.It seems expensive though,but i think it will be worth building a house to our needs,rather than buying an expensive property and spending more money on it.Where did you move back to?
We are looking to go back to the North west we think.
I laughed at your remark about butter.......here in Canada where it use to be soooooo cheap,at the moment a block of the cheapest butter is almost $5,that is about 3 quid...so triple the cost of the UK. We were told by 3 familes that have recently gone back from Alberta that food is much cheaper in the UK than here.It use to be the other way around though!
very pleased to hear you story
Thats what i love to hear........and i cannot wait for that day too!
We are also looking for land to build.It seems expensive though,but i think it will be worth building a house to our needs,rather than buying an expensive property and spending more money on it.Where did you move back to?
We are looking to go back to the North west we think.
I laughed at your remark about butter.......here in Canada where it use to be soooooo cheap,at the moment a block of the cheapest butter is almost $5,that is about 3 quid...so triple the cost of the UK. We were told by 3 familes that have recently gone back from Alberta that food is much cheaper in the UK than here.It use to be the other way around though!
very pleased to hear you story
Mar 3rd 2011, 1:40 am
#9
Onwards and upwards!
Joined: Dec 2009
Location: North West UK
Posts: 288
Re: 7 weeks update
WOW that is an amazing up date !!!!
Thats what i love to hear........and i cannot wait for that day too!
We are also looking for land to build.It seems expensive though,but i think it will be worth building a house to our needs,rather than buying an expensive property and spending more money on it.Where did you move back to?
We are looking to go back to the North west we think.
I laughed at your remark about butter.......here in Canada where it use to be soooooo cheap,at the moment a block of the cheapest butter is almost $5,that is about 3 quid...so triple the cost of the UK. We were told by 3 familes that have recently gone back from Alberta that food is much cheaper in the UK than here.It use to be the other way around though!
very pleased to hear you story
Thats what i love to hear........and i cannot wait for that day too!
We are also looking for land to build.It seems expensive though,but i think it will be worth building a house to our needs,rather than buying an expensive property and spending more money on it.Where did you move back to?
We are looking to go back to the North west we think.
I laughed at your remark about butter.......here in Canada where it use to be soooooo cheap,at the moment a block of the cheapest butter is almost $5,that is about 3 quid...so triple the cost of the UK. We were told by 3 familes that have recently gone back from Alberta that food is much cheaper in the UK than here.It use to be the other way around though!
very pleased to hear you story
That means I can eat more and put all that weight back on that i've lost!! lol
I know other things like petrol are cheaper here but we travel a lot further distances in Canada than the UK.
Mar 3rd 2011, 1:52 am
#10
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2008
Location: Alberta to Kendal
Posts: 353
Re: 7 weeks update
yeah your right fatcat !
I think over the 10yrs that we have been here,prices of groceries have gone through the roof here in Alberta. I can remember spending around $75 for three of us to live like kings per week,when we first arrived.Now two carrier bags and its $100. You can spend $300 per week and still have to go out and buy stuff in between. Cant wait to have all that choice of food again and at a fraction of the cost.
Yeah petrol in more expensive,but we have the little economical cars over there.Not many have the big chugalug trucks,like they do over here lol
I think over the 10yrs that we have been here,prices of groceries have gone through the roof here in Alberta. I can remember spending around $75 for three of us to live like kings per week,when we first arrived.Now two carrier bags and its $100. You can spend $300 per week and still have to go out and buy stuff in between. Cant wait to have all that choice of food again and at a fraction of the cost.
Yeah petrol in more expensive,but we have the little economical cars over there.Not many have the big chugalug trucks,like they do over here lol
Mar 4th 2011, 8:01 pm
#11
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Feb 2011
Location: Salt Spring Island, BC, Canada
Posts: 2,060
Re: 7 weeks update
Enjoyed reading your update. I only hope that I can be that lucky when I go back. Wonder how much it cost to kennel the dog though.
Yes, food prices are definitely higher here in BC. Same as the others said, so you can be happy about that.
Hope things continue to go swimmingly for you.
Linda
Yes, food prices are definitely higher here in BC. Same as the others said, so you can be happy about that.
Hope things continue to go swimmingly for you.
Linda
Mar 7th 2011, 8:42 am
#12
Ping pong PoM
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2006
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 1,537
Re: 7 weeks update
Kennels vary according to the size of your dog... we have a Weimaraner (so large!) and she cost around 8.00 GBP per day to kennel. However if you are going to be kenneling for a while, I suggest that you negotiate a rate with the kennels for long term (we didn't!
)
)
Mar 9th 2011, 2:43 am
#13
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Feb 2011
Location: Salt Spring Island, BC, Canada
Posts: 2,060
Re: 7 weeks update
I think that's very reasonable. I pay double that to a local lady to watch my dog when I go away.
Apr 26th 2011, 1:39 am
#14
Just Joined
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 7
Re: 7 weeks update
Well, we've been back in the UK for 7 weeks now, so thought I'd give you a little update.
Youngest decided to stay in Australia, but as he's 18, it had to be his decision. He's living with his girlfriend now... and continuing his Bricklaying apprenticeship... Just going into his 3rd year.
We found a rental very quickly, although it's a little larger than we need (6 bedrooms!) the price was right and they didn't want 6 months up front. OH has gone back to his old company (with a big promotion, and started 2 days after we landed) I don't think he's enjoying it much but he didn't work in Australia for the 2 1/2 years we lived there, so I guess it's a bit of a shock!!
Our container arrived the day after we got the rental as, did the dog, who'd been in Kennels for weeks as MIL has a dog already and ours is not sociable! We also seem to have regained our elder son who finished Uni in the Summer, he couldn't wait to move back home!!
We've bought a car (BMW) which was very reasonably priced compared to Australia.... Although I'm not so delighted with the price of the diesel (luckily it will do 40 to the gallon!)
We've bought a plot of land already and are just applying for planning to build a home of our own. (The council was selling off residential plots for a song, so we thought it would be rude not to! Recession really does have it's compensations)
There are things I miss; mostly our youngest, although, I think it's teaching him some life lessons, doing without the bank of Mum and Dad. Also stupid things like Cheezles, and Tim Tams, and walking the dog on the beach in the early morning. I've been FREEZING since we landed, but tbh, it's not enough to make me want to return.
I'm grateful that I don't have to pay $5 for a decent loaf of bread anymore, but I have to say that the price of food has gone up a lot in the UK since I left.... the cheapest butter you can get now is 98p when I left it was 65p that's a 50% increase in price in less than 3 years! But dried fruit, chocolate, Pork, bacon, chicken etc is still less expensive here, even with the price increases.
My sisters, my friends and my family just down the road is just great. Funny thing is that I didn't realise how much I missed them until I came back.... I'm not a homesick kind of person.
The decision to move back was always a practical one based on employment and lifestyle. My home is really where my man is... the rest of it is flexible.
I'm sure that all you expats who live in another country, when you'd rather be elsewhere, because of you man understand what I'm saying.....
I'm just starting to look for a job myself now, but from what I've seen there seems to be no shortage of opportunities in my field, so I'm hopeful....
Hope all of you planning on the return trip find your move as smooth as we have
Youngest decided to stay in Australia, but as he's 18, it had to be his decision. He's living with his girlfriend now... and continuing his Bricklaying apprenticeship... Just going into his 3rd year.
We found a rental very quickly, although it's a little larger than we need (6 bedrooms!) the price was right and they didn't want 6 months up front. OH has gone back to his old company (with a big promotion, and started 2 days after we landed) I don't think he's enjoying it much but he didn't work in Australia for the 2 1/2 years we lived there, so I guess it's a bit of a shock!!
Our container arrived the day after we got the rental as, did the dog, who'd been in Kennels for weeks as MIL has a dog already and ours is not sociable! We also seem to have regained our elder son who finished Uni in the Summer, he couldn't wait to move back home!!
We've bought a car (BMW) which was very reasonably priced compared to Australia.... Although I'm not so delighted with the price of the diesel (luckily it will do 40 to the gallon!)
We've bought a plot of land already and are just applying for planning to build a home of our own. (The council was selling off residential plots for a song, so we thought it would be rude not to! Recession really does have it's compensations
) There are things I miss; mostly our youngest, although, I think it's teaching him some life lessons, doing without the bank of Mum and Dad. Also stupid things like Cheezles, and Tim Tams, and walking the dog on the beach in the early morning. I've been FREEZING since we landed, but tbh, it's not enough to make me want to return.
I'm grateful that I don't have to pay $5 for a decent loaf of bread anymore, but I have to say that the price of food has gone up a lot in the UK since I left.... the cheapest butter you can get now is 98p when I left it was 65p that's a 50% increase in price in less than 3 years! But dried fruit, chocolate, Pork, bacon, chicken etc is still less expensive here, even with the price increases.
My sisters, my friends and my family just down the road is just great. Funny thing is that I didn't realise how much I missed them until I came back.... I'm not a homesick kind of person.
The decision to move back was always a practical one based on employment and lifestyle. My home is really where my man is... the rest of it is flexible.
I'm sure that all you expats who live in another country, when you'd rather be elsewhere, because of you man understand what I'm saying.....
I'm just starting to look for a job myself now, but from what I've seen there seems to be no shortage of opportunities in my field, so I'm hopeful....
Hope all of you planning on the return trip find your move as smooth as we have
Apr 26th 2011, 2:01 am
#15
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2008
Location: Alberta to Kendal
Posts: 353
Re: 7 weeks update
yeah glad to hear some thing possitive too !
I think if its that bad no one would live there....but everyone keeps on going back. We intend to do the same thing this summer !!!! cannot wait
I think if its that bad no one would live there....but everyone keeps on going back. We intend to do the same thing this summer !!!! cannot wait
